Rheostat



F. DIEHL.

RHEOSTAT.

APPLICATION mw ocr. 2, 1911;

Pawnted Feb. 22, 1921.

2 SHE'ETS-SNEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREEERICK DIEHL, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO DIEHL MANUFAC- TUBING CO., F ELIZABETH, NEW TERSEY, A CORPORATION OF JERSEY,

RHEosTAT. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application led October 2, 1917. Serial No. 194,341. I

' the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rheostats.

One object of the invention is to vprovide an improved rheostat.

Another object is to provide a rheostat which is simple in-construction, efficient in service, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide an improved resistance unit for use in rheostats and the like.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter' appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The views of the drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 is 'a top plan view ofthe rheostat;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the rheo-A4 stat;

F ig.I 3 is a vertical longitudinal section ofthe rheostat; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of illustrating the manner in which the resistor is wound upon its support;

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section` showing the rheostat mounted in a casing and Fig. 7 is a plan view-of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings will be specifically described,.but the specific description is for illustrative )urposes and should not be construed in a limiting sense. n

The rlieostat comprises a support 1 which may be of any suitable insulatingk material, such as porcelain. The support is provided with openings 2 by means of which it may be fastened in place when desired by bolts, screws, or other fastening devices. In the present instance the support is adapted to be mounted and fastened .in a casing, as will hereinafter appear.

A plurality of contacts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 8, and 9 are positioned at one` end of the support.

The number of these contacts will dependA Contact over which the arm of the rheostat moves. The nut 11 of each bolt 10 holds in placeI a hookshaped member 12. These hook-sliaped members are positioned at the under side of the support 1, as shown in Figs. 2 vand 3. The resistorN is electrically connected to and passed around these hooks, as will hereinafter appear. The nuts 11 and hooks 12 are positioned in recesses 13, -provided in the under side of the support l. A relatively large number of contacts may be used when so desired on a relatively small support by arranging the contacts in staggered relation, as shown in the drawing. The length of the series of contacts Will then be shortened without decreasing the distance between adjacent contacts.

In longitudinalalinement with each contact is an opening which passes transversely through the support 1. These openings are shown at 14 to 20 inclusive. They are arranged in a series which is substantially diagonal ot the support, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the first opening 14 is a greater distance from its contact 3 than the opening 15 is from theA Contact 4. Likewise, the opening 15 is a greater distance from the contact 4 than the next opening 16 is from its contact 5. In short, each succeeding opening is nearer to its contact than the preceding opening. Each of the openings 14 to 20 inclusive is connected by means of' a groove or recess 21, formed in the under surface of the support tothe corresponding recess 13, in which the nuts 11 and hooks 12 of the contacts are positioned. Each recess 21 and the lcorresponding recess 13, therefore, constitute in eii'ect a single recess.

'The resistor is wound'upon the support and electrically connected with the contacts in the manner now to be described.`

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate ina diagrammatic way the manner in which 'the resistor .is wound upon the support, .and these figures should be followed during the following explanation in addition to Figs. 1 and 2.

The resistor 22, which may be a conductor having the desired ohmic resistance, is connected at one end to the hook of thetirst contact. It is then led to the first opening 14 and passed therethrough. The resistor is then wound transversely about the support with the desired number of turns until the second opening 15 is reached. The resistor is then passed through this opening to the bottom of the support and led out to the second contact 4. It is looped about the hook 12 of this contact and then led back to the opening 15 and passed therethrough to the top of the support, and is then again wound transversely about the support until the opening 16 is reached. The resistor is then passed through the opening 16 and led out to the third contact 5 and, looped about the hook of this contact, and then led back to the opening 16 and passed therethrough to the top of the support. T he resistor is then again wound transversely about the support with the desired number ot turns until the next opening 17 is reached, and it is then led out to the corresponding contact and looped about its hook in the same manner as described above. This process is continued until the last contact 9 is reached. The end of the resistor is then connected to the hook of this contact. Those portions ot the resistor which extend out' to the hooks of the contacts lie in the longitudinal grooves 21, while the turns ot wire which pass transversely about the support pass transversely over these grooves.

1lhe turns of wire between any two adjacent openings constitute one of the resistance sections of the rheostat.

lt will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 that the resistor is one continuous length of wire having its ends connected to the end contacts and having intermediate portions brought out and looped about the intermediate con- Y suitable insulating material.

tacts. A section of the resistor is therefore electrically connected between every two adjacent contacts. In Fig. 5 the support is viewed from its under side. The purpose of this view is merely to make clear the manner in which the resistor is wound upon the support. Only a few contacts are-shown and only a few turns of wire are shown between each two adjacent openings. This* is to make the view as simple and clear as possible.

The arm of the rheostat is shown at 23.

One end of the arm passes over the contacts 3 to 9 inclusive and the other end is secured by means of rivets 24 to an arm 25 made of The arm 25 1s plvotally mounted upon a post 26 that is clamped to the support 1 by means of a bolt 27. A coil spring 28 encircling the post 26 acts upon the arm 25 to bias the same to the position shown in-Fig. 1. y One of the current leads 29 is electrically connected to the bolt 27, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Current passes from` the bolt 27 to the rheostat arm 23 through a conducting plate '30 on the linsulating arm 25. and through the rivets 24.

If the rheostat arm 23 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the current will pass through all ot' the resistance sections and out through the lead 3l electrically connected to the contact 3. If the rheostat arm 23 is in electrical engagement with the contact 3 all of the resistance sections .will be short-circuited and current will pass directly through the rheostat arm to the contact 3 and lead 31 without passing through any of the resistance sections. If the rheostat arm is in engagement with the contact 8, the current will pass through all of the resistance sections except that section at the right-hand end of the rheostat; z". e., the section that is electricall connected between the contacts 8 and 9. liikewise, if the rheostat arm is in engagement with the contact 7 the first two right-hand resistance sections will be short-circuited. When the rheostat arm reaches the Contact 4: all of the resistance sections except the one at the left-hand end of the rheostat are short-circuited and the current flows only through this section.

The rheostat arm 23 may, of course, be actuated in any desired manner. In the present instancel the rheostat shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is positioned in a casing 32, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The casing 32 has pivoted thereto an actuating arm provided `with a pin 34. The pin 34 projects into an eyelet or bushing 35 provided in the insulating arm 25. The actuating arm 33 may be operated from the exterior of the casing by means oa lever 36.

The complete rheostat shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is intended for use as a controller for a sewing machine motor and when so used the lever 36 may be actuated by the knee of the operator. t is obvious, however, that the rheostat shown in Figs. 1, 2, 'and 3 isv not limited to this use and may be used in other ways. Y

It will now be noted that the resistor of the rheostat is continuous in length and isso Wound upon the support and so connected with the contactsthat no soldered connec tions are necessary. The rheostat is simple in construction, inexpnsive to manufacture, and is efficient in operation.

What I claim is 1. A resistance unit comprising a support having a plurality of openings extending therethrough and arranged in a series diagonally of the support, a series'of contacts at one end of the support, a resistor connected to one of the end contacts and passing through one of the end. openings, thev resistor being then Wound upon the s/upport and passed through the second opening and looped about the second contact, then brought back to the same opening, passed therethrough, and again wound upon the support until the next opening is reached, the resistor being then passed through the opening and looped about the next contact and so on until the last contact 1s reached, the end of the resistorbeing connected to said last contact.

2. A resistance unit comprising a support having a plurality of openings. passing therethrough and arranged in a series transversely of the support, a continuous rcsistor wound transversely upon said support and having integral portions passed through said openings and extending longitudinally of the support to points on said support where electrical contact may be made.

3. A resistance unit comprising a support provided with a series of openings passing therethrough, and a resistor wound transversely upon saidsupport, the ends of said resistor being passed through the end openingsA and extending longitudinally of the support toward the end thereof` and the resistor having loops passing through the. intermediate openings and extending longitudinally of the support toward the end thereof.

4.` A resistance unit comprising a support, aseries of contacts, a continuous resistor wound upon said support, said support having a series of openings therethrough .and said resistor having integral portions passed through said openings and extending substantially at right angles to the turns of the resistor to said contacts.

5. A resistance unit comprising a support provided with a selies of openings passing therethrough, and a resistor wound transversely around said support, said resistor having portions passing through said openings 'and extending longitudinally toward the end of the support. and said support having longitudinal grooves in which said longitudinally extending portions of the resistor are positioned.

G. A resistance unit comprising a support, a plurality of contacts at one end of the support, said support having an opening passing therethrough in line with each conI tact, and a longitudinal groove extending from each `opening to one of said contacts, and a resistor wound transversely about said support and having portions passed through said openingsl and lying in said grooves and extending toward the contacts.

7. resistance unit comprising a support, a pluralityv of contacts at one; end of the support, said support having an opening passing therethrough in line with each con tact. and a longitudinal groove extending from each opening to one of the. contacts, and a continuous resistor- Wound trans versely about said support and having integral portions passed throughsaid opene ings and lying in said grooves and extending toward the contacts..

8. A resistance unit comprising a support,

a continuous resistor wound transversely about the support. said resistor having integral portions extending longitudinallyto- Ward the end of the support, and a series of contacts having hooks about each of which one of said portions of the resistor is looped.

S); A resistance unit comprising a support, a continuous resistor wound thereon, and a series ol' contacts, said resistor having integral portions extending substantially at right angles to the turns of the resistor and electrically connected to said contacts, and the support having grooves or recesses in which said integral portions of the resistor are positioned.

It). A\ resistance yunit comprising a sup port, a continuous resistor wound thereon, said resistor having integral portions extending substantially at right angles to the turns ol' the resistor to points where electrical contact may be made, said integral portions being positioned under said turns and at a dill'erent level therefrom to space said portions from the turns.

11. resistance unit comprising a support. a continuons resistor wound thereon, said resistor having integral loops extending substantially at right angles to the turns of the resistor to points where electrical contact may be made,` and said loops being positioned under said turns and located at a different level therefrom so that the loops will be spaced from the turns.

12. rheostat comprising a support, a continuous resistor wound thereon, said resistor having integral loops extending substantially at right angles to the turns of the resistor to points where electrical contact may be made,- said loops being positioned under said turns and located at a different level therefrom so that the loops will bel resistor comprising a continuous' conductorl wound transversely of said `support and looped out at intervals to said contacts at substantially right angles to the turns, and a switch pivotally mounted on said support to move over said contacts to vary the number of effective sections of the resistor.

1-5. A rheostat which may be applied as a unit` comprising a support arranged to be mounted in position, a series of electrical contacts carried by said support, a resistor comprising a' continuous conductor wound transversely upon said support and extending at intervals in loops through openings in said support into electrical connection with said contacts, and a pivoted switch arm carried by said support and movable over said contacts to vary the efeetive resistance of the resistor.

16. A resistance unit comprisingasupport having a plurality of openings passing therethrough, and a continuous resistor looped upon the support to include said openings, the resistor having integral portions passed through said openings and extending axially ofthe loops to a point on the support where electrical contact may be made.

17. A resistance unit comprising a support having openings passing therethrough, and a continuous resistor wound upon the support forming turns alined with the openings, said resistor having integral portions passed through the openings and extending between the turns to a point on the support where electrical contact may be made.

18. A rheostat comprising a support having an opening therethrough, terminals mounted thereon, and a continuous resistor Wound upon said support and having integral portions drawn through the openings contained within turns of the wound resistor for connection with the terminals.

19. A rheostat comprising a support having apertures therein, and a continuous resistor having turns wound upon the support about an axis different from that of the opening, the resistor having integral portions drawn through the openings and extending axially of the turns to a point on the support Where an electrical connection may be made.

20. A rheostat comprising a support having apertures therein, terminals on the supy port and a continuous resistor wound upon the support so that the openings lie within the turns of the resistor, said resistor' having integral portions drawn through the openings and extending to the terminals.

21. rheostat comprising a support havingl openings therethrough, and a resistor wound upon the support to overlie th'e openings, the resistor having integral portions passed through the openings and extending to a point on the support where electrical contact may be made.

In` Witness whereoi` l have hereunto suhscribed my name.

FREDERICK DIEHL, 

